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PITTSTON TWP. - Calls mounted Thursday for federal prosecutors to release the identities of the companies that allegedly paid kickbacks to Lackawanna County Commissioner A.J. Munchak and former Commissioner Robert C. Cordaro.

A 40-count indictment returned Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Scranton says that nine unidentified companies paid some form of bribe or kickback to the two, totaling at least $475,000. The indictment identifies the companies only by numbers.

Information contained in the indictment itself points to the identities of some firms.

Company #3 appears to be the Clarks Summit-based architectural design company Highland Associates, which designed the county's long-stalled intermodal center. The indictment says the company designing the intermodal center, through its three principals, paid Mr. Munchak $60,000 and Mr. Cordaro $30,000.

It says Mr. Cordaro influenced the County of Lackawanna Transit System to award a no-bid contact to Highland, prompting the Federal Transportation Administration to pull back a $907,000 grant from the county. The Times-Tribune reported on the loss of the grant at the time.

Company #9 may be Alicon Environmental Inc. of Clarks Summit. Company #9 paid Mr. Cordaro thousands of dollars in cash during the first three months of 2006 through Charles Costanzo in exchange for a county contract, according to the indictment.

The circumstances match testimony at the 2008 extortion trial of Mr. Costanzo and co-defendant Philip Forgione. The two were acquitted but testimony included claims that Alicon paid Mr. Costanzo and Mr. Forgione a total of $300,000 through April 4, 2006.

The indictment also says that four unnamed people involved in construction of a cell tower at the county 911 center paid Mr. Cordaro about $14,000. County records show a Dunmore company named John Brayfee LLC received the construction contract. Dunmore Borough solicitor Thomas P. Cummings Jr. was involved with Brayfee but he has refused to identify other parties in the company.

The other companies alleged to have paid bribes remain anonymous for now - and some say that shouldn't be.

One request to identify the companies came Thursday on the steps of the federal courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, where Mr. Cordaro and Mr. Munchak were arraigned on the charges.

"This is about persons trying to save themselves and their companies," said attorney Chris Powell, who represents Mr. Munchak. "We intend to find out their names and the deals they've cut."

Another call for the names came from the board that oversees the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, made up of commissioners from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. The board voted unanimously to ask the FBI to identify the company that allegedly paid thousands of dollars to Mr. Cordaro between Dec. 29, 2003, and May 5, 2004, in exchange for contracts it had at the airport. The company is identified only as "Company #1" in the indictment.

On Wednesday, Lackawanna County Commissioners Mike Washo and Corey O'Brien said they are trying to find out who the companies are, because they want to know if the county is still doing business with them.

Lorna Graham, the lead prosecutor in the case against Mr. Cordaro and Mr. Munchak, waved off reporters as she left the courthouse following the arraignments. Efforts to reach Heidi Havens, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office, were not successful late Thursday.

Mr. Munchak, who attended the airport board meeting and voted along with other members to ask the FBI to identify the companies, reiterated that he will not resign his commissioner's seat, saying he is innocent until proven guilty. He refused, however, to respond to any questions asked by The Times-Tribune and other media.

Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla said the board could still work together, but acknowledged the indictment is a distraction.

Ms. Petrilla said the board would not do business with any company implicated in the scandal and that she would try to recoup any taxpayer money that was lost, if the allegations are true.

She said the bidding process is transparent, adding that, "We can't answer for people who decide to get involved with criminal activity."

Lackawanna County Commissioner Michael Washo said the issue is not with the bidding process. He added the airport board would have taken action if it had known about the alleged activity.

Following the meeting, Luzerne County Commission Stephen Urban also said the board will attempt to recoup any loss caused by the individuals or companies identified in the indictment.

JOE MCDONALD, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: jmrozinski@timesshamrock.com

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10 posted comments

Wow! What BAD reporting! Why would you write about "appears" and "maybe"? Get the facts straight before you start pointing fingers! What is the Scranton Times trying to do, ruin these companies reputations? These people have put in A LOT of hard work and dedication to these companies! Scranton Times, how about getting the facts straight before you go slandering these companies!

We need term limits for all aspects of our government. This way no elected official is in office long enough to feel they are above the law. The President is only allowed two terms. Why aren't there limits in local, state and federal? This is the 'real' problem.

There are a lot of nervous contractors out there. Some general, some demolition, some environmental...some worked at the courthouse and the annex, some on Lackawanna Ave, some at the Washington Square project, some at Lackawanna College...oh how the blade shall fall on the necks of the GULTY! Better buy some adult diapers for when the FBI starts knocking. I think I'm going to Cabela's to get a good pair of binoculars...it's BIRD WATCHING SEASON! Oh the beauty of the mating call and the shrill of the distress call, what wonders of nature!

ALICON ENVIRONMENTALIS NOT COMPANY # 4 OR #9! THERE IS A REASON WE WERE NOT MENTIONED IN THE INDICTMENT... BECAUSE WERE ARE NOT ONE OF THE SUSPECTED COMPANIES. ON MARCH 18TH, YOU STATED IT IS "UNLIKELY ALICON IS COMPANY # 4". ON MARCH 19TH YOU STATED ALICON "MAY BE COMPANY #9", YOUR UNSUBSTANTIATED SPECULATION AND CONJECTURE PRINTED ON THE FRONT PAGE IS NOT TRUE. I REPEAT ALICON ENVIRONMENTAL IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPANIES!Kerry Kearney of Alicon Environmental

I wonder how many of cordaro's "pay to play" pals are sleeping these days? lol. i love when people think they are so smart that they will never get caught. every company involved in this needs to be hauled into court and heavily fined.

If there isn't a problem with the bidding process then how did these companies win?? To say you don't know who the companies are and want to recoup any lost moneys is a joke. They all voted on the companies hired for the airport so how can they not know who they are?? I think everyone knew but now they start pointing fingers. I bet that the dynamic duo will start to sing and we'll see more people hanging there heads in shame on the council as well.